The Iola register. [volume] (Iola, Allen County, Kansas) 1875-1902, 1887-12-23
FROM A MOTHERS DIARY.
A Christau,as I,seun.

|
&S Plat tdings I hav'
~ = a heard to-day!
They say my boy vii
81 soon be we'll
HSNf, That on his cheek vii
y cease to burn
/t&E The fever-nrcs. The.
AEEn strangely tell
I(N&NEM HIS wasted strength VII
SfsSsSts all return
yHfIVRN In pastures greer
n4W where. undistressed
He shall lie down 4
VNfS~> perfect rest:
And One viii lead his tired feet
Where now the cool e-givipy springs,
And fresh the balmy air will blow
With healing in its Heavenly wings;
The views Of Time, denied below
From heights exalted will be seen
Bathed in . never-fading sheen.
How blurred mine eyes not to have known
The angel stamp upon his face
Till now, nor caught y single ray
OF all the light that filled the place
Wherein my patient darling lay!
How dull mine ears not to have heard
Celestial tones in every word!
Already on his childish brow
Shines forth the diadem Of gain,
But on my head the crown Of loss
Strikes deep its cruel thorns Of pain.
faint and sink beneath this cross,
And cry: 20 Saviour. Thou must give
Thy strength or else can not liver
How YEARLY the days 60 by
Now that this shadow, dark and chill,
Enshrouds my home forevermore!
Lonely the house and deathly still;
Through the closed shutters TO the floor
Struggles the light, with ghostiy glare.
A. IL some lifeless form were there.
And now my other children come
With careful steps, subdued and slow,
And with pathetic interest
Ana eyes that often overflow.
flushing their harmless sport and jest
They sit beside the sufferer.
And to his least wants minister.
Too weak to lie now in my arms,
Within hts little bed he sleeps
In broken rest day after day,
While ever near the shadow creeps,
And can only watch and pray,
Sitting with clenched and idle hands,
Submissive TO the dread demands.
The sanity wisdom Of the skies
Lingers upon his infant tongue,
A lustrous glory fills his eyes.
Oh. with what agony 1t wrung
NY soul when first its awful light
Smote through the darkness on my sight
The holy Christmas time draws near.
Fraught with its promises OF Joy.
One wish alone has power to thrill
The bosom Of my dying boy
10 live till then-O God, fulnn
His pite0us prayer! then willingly
I'll give my angel back to Thee.
o, let me see the olden light
OF perfect Joy his face express
To hold In memory evern,cre!
Danish the look of WEAKNESS,
Tho eager glad surprise restore
One joyous laugh, one shout OF glee,
Would I'LL my heart with ecstasy.
The night moves onward toward the morn,
The shadows break and fec awsy,
And while the starry curtains part
Angels proclaim: IT'S Christmas Day.
From restless dreams OF pain I start
And hear the old hosannas roll
In waves OF peace ecross my soul
Thou art not here. my gentle boy.
Yet oh, what Joys this hour are thinei-
Tia anchor of enduring hold,
The pearl Of wondrous price divine,
The tuneful harp Of precious gold,
The fruits from Oh the healing tree,
The crown of life eternally.
Around me lie the paltry gifts
Igsthered for his longing hands
The hooks, the toys hundred things
The loving heart alone commando;
Hat what are these frail offerings
Beside the iargess Heaven bestows
Amid the Eapturous repose!
"Glory TO God, good will and peace".
Again that matchicss anthem rolls,
One voice know-thine, thine, my child
The whelming storm Of grief controls.
calm succeeds the pillows wild
And gives me also grace to say:
"Glory to God this Christmas Day.
JULIA H. THAYER.